Sealing device for sealing a sheet pile profile, as well as an assembly and method

ABSTRACT

A sealing device for sealing a sheet pile profile, including a sealing body including a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile, wherein the sealing device includes a casing, which casing envelops the sealing material in a gas-tight manner and wherein, in the casing, such an underpressure has been created that the sealing body is in a shrunken state, and wherein the sealing body is designed to expand into an expanded state when a gas is let into the casing up to an atmospheric pressure, as well as a method for producing an assembly of a sheet pile profile and a sealing device.

The invention relates to a sealing device for sealing a sheet pile profile, comprising a sealing body which comprises a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile.

Such a sealing device is known in practice, for filling the space between the top side of a vertical wall and a sheet pile profile extending transversely to this wall. In this application, the sheet pile profile is generally a roof slab having a sheet pile profile, which roof slab is placed over the vertical wall or is fastened to the top side of the vertical wall. The spaces between the sheet pile profile and the vertical wall need, inter alia, to be sealed to combat damp.

A drawback of the known sealing device is that during the installation operation and as a sheet pile profile is fastened to a vertical wall, the sheet pile profile becomes deformed. The result of this is that the shape of the spaces to be sealed between the sheet pile profile and the vertical wall changes. Hence, the shape of the known sealing device no longer corresponds exactly to the sheet pile profile, whereby (draught) openings between the sheet pile profile and the sealing device are formed.

From GB 2210399, a noise-damping element is known for a joint in a road.

From DE 1273777C, a seal for joints in concrete parts is known.

An object according to the invention is to provide a sealing device which connects well to a sheet pile profile, even if the sheet pile profile has become to some extent deformed.

This object is achieved with the sealing device according to the invention, having the features of Claim 1.

The effect of this is that the sealing device can be placed in a shrunken state into the space of a sheet pile profile. In this position, the gas-tight shell of the casing is pierced, for example by puncturing of the casing. By virtue of the fact that the sealing body is designed to expand, a gas, in this case air, will be drawn into casing until an atmospheric pressure prevails in the casing. As a result, the sealing body will take on the shape of the ribs of the trapezoidal shaped sheet pile profile, whereby a tight-fitting sealing of the sealing body on the sheet pile profile is achieved. As a result of the rupturing of the gas-tight shell, the sealing body thus proceeds to swell.

In one embodiment of the sealing device according to the invention, the sealing body comprises elastic material. The elastic material has the advantageous characteristic that this, enveloped by a gas-tight casing will shrink if there is an underpressure in the casing and will expand if a gas is let into the casing. The expansion of the sealing body can likewise be achieved by virtue of the sealing body comprising means which, when coming into contact with a gas, enter into a chemical reaction, with the result that the sealing body expands.

In a further embodiment of the sealing device according to the invention, the size of the sealing body in the shrunken state is between 30 and 15% smaller than in the expanded state. In practice, it can be seen that an advantageous tight-fitting sealing of the sheet pile profile is thereby achieved. Preferably, the size of the sealing body in the shrunken state is between 20 and 25% smaller than in the expanded state.

In a further embodiment of the sealing device according to the invention, the sealing device comprises rupturing means for rupturing the gas-tight shell of the casing.

The sealing body can comprise sound-insulating material. This is, inter alia, advantageous for the sound-insulating sealing of (a part of) a building. Furthermore, the sealing body and the casing can comprise a fire-resistant material. In a building, a fire is hence prevented from spreading through the spaces between the vertical wall and the sheet pile profile. The sealing body and the casing can here respectively comprise mineral wool and aluminium foil.

The invention further relates to an assembly of a sheet pile profile and a sealing device according to the invention. In one embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the complementary shape of the sealing body in the expanded state is larger than the shape of the sheet pile profile. Here, the complementary shape of the sealing body in the expanded state is preferably between 5 and 10% larger than the shape of the sheet pile profile. The complementary shape of the sealing body in the shrunken state is preferably between 10 and 15% smaller than the shape of the sheet pile profile. In addition, the invention further relates to a building comprising the assembly according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a method for producing an assembly according to the invention, comprising the following steps:

-   -   the provision of a vertical wall comprising a top side,     -   the placement of a sheet pile profile on the top side of the         wall such that the sheet pile profile extends transversely to         the wall,     -   the placement of a sealing device between the top side of the         wall and the sheet pile profile, and     -   the rupturing of the gas-tight shell of the casing.

This method can comprise the step of making a perforation in the casing.

The invention will be further explained in detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a diagrammatic view in perspective of an embodiment of the sealing device according to the invention in a shrunken state,

FIG. 1B shows a diagrammatic view in perspective of the sealing device of FIG. 1A in an expanded state,

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view in cross section, along the line II-II of FIG. 3, of a building having an assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view in cross section, along the line III-III of FIG. 2, of the building of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 shows the view of FIG. 3, wherein an embodiment of the method according to the invention is represented.

FIG. 1A shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the sealing device 1 according to the invention in a shrunken state 5. The sealing device 1 for sealing a sheet pile profile (2 of FIG. 3) has a sealing body 3 of a shape which is complementary to a sheet pile profile. The sealing body 3 consists of elastic material. Around the sealing device 1 there is a casing 4, which envelops the sealing body 3 in a gas-tight manner, such an underpressure having been created in the casing 4 that the sealing body 3 is in a shrunken state 5. On the casing 4 there are rupturing means 7 in the form of a lip. Through the application of a tensile force to the lip, the gas-tight shell of the casing 4 is ruptured.

FIG. 1B shows a diagrammatic view of the sealing device 1 of FIG. 1A in an expanded state. The gas-tight shell of the casing 4 is ruptured by the rupturing means 7. At the moment of this rupture, as a result of the expansion tendency of the sealing body 3, air will be drawn into the casing until a pressure equal to the atmospheric pressure prevails in the casing 4. Consequently, the elastic sealing body 3 expands into the expanded state 6. As a result of the rupturing of the gas-tight shell, the sealing body 3 proceeds to swell. The size of the sealing body 3 in the shrunken state 5 is indicated with dash-dot lines and is approximately 20% smaller than the size in the expanded state 6.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view in cross section, along the line II-II of FIG. 3, of a building 11 having a sheet pile profile 2 and a sealing device 3 according to the invention. The building 11 is formed by outer walls 15 extending from the ground 20. Extending as a roofing between the outer walls 15 is a sheet pile profile 2 having a trapezodial cross section. By a vertical wall 12 present in the building 11, the building is divided into two rooms 18. In each room 18 there is a hanging ceiling 17, which is fastened 16 to the sheet pile profile 2 by means of suspension means. The sheet pile profile 2 rests on and is fastened to the top side 14 of the vertical wall 12. In the space between the sheet pile profile 2 and the top side 14 of the vertical wall 12 there is placed a sealing device 1. In the sealing device 1, the gas-tight shell of the casing (not shown) is pierced, so that the sealing body 3 tends to expand. A tight-fitting sealing of the space between the top side of the vertical wall 12 and the legs or ribs of the sheet pile profile 2 is thereby achieved. The sealing body 3 comprises sound-insulating material, by which sounds from one room 18 are inaudible from the other room 18. The sealing body 3 and the casing 4 here comprise fire-resistant material, whereby a fire breaking out in the one room 18 is prevented from spreading via the space between the vertical wall 12 and the sheet pile profile 2.

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view in cross section, along the line III-III of FIG. 2, of the building of FIG. 2. In this view, the shape which is complementary to the sheet pile profile 2 is easily visible. In the expanded state, the complementary shape of the sealing body 3 is 7% larger than the shape of the sheet pile profile 2. This implies that, in the shown situation, the sealing device, as a result of the tendency of the sealing body to expand, is wedged with a compressive force between the top side 14 of the vertical wall 12 and connects in tight-fitting manner to the top side 14 and the sheet pile profile 2.

FIG. 4 shows the view of FIG. 3, wherein an embodiment of the method according to the invention is represented. For the sake of clarity, the hanging ceiling (17 of FIG. 3) is not represented. Between the top side 14 of the wall 12 and the sheet pile profile 2 there are a first, second, third and fourth space 21, 22, 23 and 24 present. In the various spaces 21, 22, 23 and 24, different steps of the installation of the sealing devices 1 are represented. In the first space 21, a sealing device 1 in the shrunken state 5 is placed on the top side 14 of the wall 12. In the second space 22, the gas-tight shell of the casing (4 of FIG. 1) is pierced by the perforation of the casing with a sharp object, in this case a nail 25. As a result, the sealing device 1 expands in the direction represented by the arrows 26, as represented in the third space 23. The end stage is represented in respect of the fourth space 24. As a result of the expansion of the sealing body 3, the sealing device 1 is wedged between the top side 14 and the sheet pile profile 2. This results in a tight-fitting connection of the sealing device 1 to the top side 14 and the sheet pile profile 2, whereby the fourth space 24 is sealed in a tight-fitting manner.

The invention also relates to a sealing device, assembly, building and method comprising a feature, or a combination of more than one feature, described in this document and/or represented in the figures. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that many variants of the sealing device, assembly, building and method according to the invention are possible without departing from the scope of protection described in this document and/or represented in the figures. 

1-16. (canceled)
 17. Sealing device for sealing a sheet pile profile, comprising a sealing body which comprises a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile, which sealing device comprises a casing, said casing enveloping the sealing body in a gas-tight manner, and wherein such an underpressure has been created in the casing that the sealing body is in a shrunken state, and wherein the sealing body is embodied to expand into an expanded state when a gas is let into the casing up to an atmospheric pressure, wherein said sealing body, in the expanded state, having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, the shape of which conforms to the shape of the ribs of the sheet pile profile to be sealed.
 18. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the sealing body comprises elastic material.
 19. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the size of the sealing body in the shrunken state is between 30 and 15% smaller than in the expanded state.
 20. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the size of the sealing body in the shrunken state is between 20 and 25% smaller than in the expanded state.
 21. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the sealing device comprises rupturing means for rupturing the gas-tight shell of the casing.
 22. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the sealing body comprises sound-insulating material.
 23. Sealing device according according to claim 17, wherein the sealing body and the casing comprise fire-resistant material.
 24. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the sealing body comprises mineral wool.
 25. Sealing device according to claim 17, wherein the casing comprises aluminium foil.
 26. Assembly of a sheet pile profile and a sealing device comprising a sealing body which comprises a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile, which sealing device comprises a casing, said casing enveloping the sealing body in a gas-tight manner, and wherein such an underpressure has been created in the casing that the sealing body is in a shrunken state, and wherein the sealing body is embodied to expand into an expanded state when a gas is let into the casing up to an atmospheric pressure, wherein said sealing body, in the expanded state, having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, the shape of which conforms to the shape of the ribs of the sheet pile profile to be sealed.
 27. Assembly according to claim 26, wherein the complementary shape of the sealing body in the expanded state is larger than the shape of the sheet pile profile.
 28. Assembly according to claim 26, wherein the complementary shape of the sealing body in the expanded state is between 5 and 10% larger than the shape of the sheet pile profile.
 29. Assembly according to claim 26, wherein the complementary shape of the sealing body in the shrunken state is between 10 and 15% smaller than the shape of the sheet pile profile.
 30. Building comprising an assembly of a sheet pile profile and a sealing device comprising a sealing body which comprises a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile, which sealing device comprises a casing, said casing enveloping the sealing body in a gas-tight manner, and wherein such an underpressure has been created in the casing that the sealing body is in a shrunken state, and wherein the sealing body is embodied to expand into an expanded state when a gas is let into the casing up to an atmospheric pressure, wherein said sealing body, in the expanded state, having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, the shape of which conforms to the shape of the ribs of the sheet pile profile to be sealed and a vertical wall, said wall comprising a top side and wherein the sheet pile profile is positioned on the top side and extends transversely to the vertical wall.
 31. Method for producing an assembly according assembly of a sheet pile profile and a sealing device comprising a sealing body which comprises a shape complementary to a sheet pile profile, which sealing device comprises a casing, said casing enveloping the sealing body in a gas-tight manner, and wherein such an underpressure has been created in the casing that the sealing body is in a shrunken state, and wherein the sealing body is embodied to expand into an expanded state when a gas is let into the casing up to an atmospheric pressure, wherein said sealing body, in the expanded state, having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, the shape of which conforms to the shape of the ribs of the sheet pile profile to be sealed, comprising the following steps: the provision of a vertical wall comprising a top side, the placement of a sheet pile profile on the top side of the wall such that the sheet pile profile extends transversely to the wall, the placement of a sealing device between the top side of the wall and the sheet pile profile, and the rupturing of the gas-tight shell of the casing.
 32. Method according to claim 31, which comprises the step of making a perforation in the casing. 